System of a Down

[Pesty]

Phantom of the Paradise is considered a rock opera and as far as I know didn't start out as a concept album. Maybe I should research it more, but I don't really have the heart anymore since my Bill and Ted takeover flopped.

Also, does Rock and Roll High School count?

[dgunpluggered]

I can't decide which concept album is my favourite:

This one...


... or this one...

[Kinoko]

ARGH! Rowlf!!! @_@

Do you really own that? I'm so jealous.

[dgunpluggered]

Yeap, I own it. And by 'it', I mean an image I found on Google. Not the album.

[Kinoko]

D'oh.

[He-Man]

I also want to give my opinion on SOAD:
Their music is allright, a little too popish at times for my taste. I agree that they are great musicians and they also have a very good production. I still think they are a little overrated though.
I agree with most of their lyrics but I don't think they're all that great maybe except for Prison Song (their best song IMO, far above the rest!). There's many other potical bands with far better political lyrics. I find it great that SOAD take a stand awrite their opinion since a lot of metal bands seems to be stuck in some fantasy world filled with dragons and brave knights. No offense.
Check these IMO great political lyrics out:
http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/nofx/thedecline.html
and while you are at that band check this one out as well:
http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/nofx/idiotsaretakingover.html

[Helm]

The thematic link can be one that is explored in storytelling, or in musical themes or even on the artwork of the album. How broad the concept is, doesn't really matter.

Good concept albums, linked in various ways:

Isis - Oceanic  (lyric narrative, recurring passages, stylistic theme)
Secret Chiefs 3 - Book of Horizons (meta-concept)
Gorguts - Obscura (stylistic theme)
Current 93 - Dog's Blood Rising (stylistic theme, lyric narrative)
Devin Townsend - Terria (lyric narrative)
Ephel Duath - The Painter's Palette (each song refers to a specific colour of said palette)
maudlin of the Well - Bath
maudlin of the Well - Leaving your Body Map (esoteric meta-concept, recurring passages)
In the Woods... - HEart of the Ages (stylistic concept)
Husker Du - Zen Arcade (lyric narrative, reocurring dreams)

also, it's 'Within Temptation', and they've nothing to do with Nightwish, were not influenced by them and developed their style seperately. Nightwish themselves are probably influenced by the band The Gathering, who incidentally have a pretty good concept album out, called 'Nighttime birds'. Also, Mastodon were much better on their first EP 'Lifesblood' in my opinion than in any later album. The newest one, Leviathan, especially, I find very weak. Especially if you keep in mind that two of these guys were in Lethargy.

And 2ma2, I understand what you're saying, but when I use the term gothic in the musical context, I am thinking Bauhaus, Siuxsie, Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim and the like. I don't see why I have to bastardize the term just because the popular perception of it has momentarily shifted. It's like people who call 'Tomb Raider' an adventure game.

[Al_Ninio]

The thematic link can be one that is explored in storytelling, or in musical themes or even on the artwork of the album. How broad the concept is, doesn't really matter.

In that case:
Anything by Fantômas.

Also, Mastodon were much better on their first EP 'Lifesblood' in my opinion than in any later album.

I will have to check that out, then.
I will also have to give Secret Chiefs 3 a listen now, I keep forgetting to do so.

[Akumayo]

Holy Crap!!!

You guys took my phsycotic crack at exposing SOAD to others and turned it into a full blown, out of proportion topic about absolutely nothing in particular!!!

BTW, I preordered Hypnotize, and got it today!!!  It is soooo awesome.  I love Sad Statue, B.Y.O.B., and Violent Pornography!!!  I have one of the earliest legal copies in existence!!!  Aww yeah, I'm in the game now!!!

We'll all go down in history
With a sad Statue of Libererty
And the generation that didn't agree

(You guys are crazy)

SOAD ROCKS!!!!

[dgunpluggered]

You guys took my phsycotic crack at exposing SOAD to others and turned it into a full blown, out of proportion topic about absolutely nothing in particular!!!

OH NOES!!!1! CALL THE INTERWEB POILCE!!!

[Scummbuddy]

Two boys learn that the telephone is a serious matter and should not be used as a toy when a group of vigilantes called the Phone Police bust anyone who does not follow the rules of the phone. And the Phone Police can do more than just put you in jail. They can erase your entire existance.

Can anyone tell me what that is from, without googling? (DG's post reminded me of it.)

[Disco]

I disqualify myself, but here is a hint for the rest of you:

[dgunpluggered]

Rugrats?

[Pesty]

Two boys learn that the telephone is a serious matter and should not be used as a toy when a group of vigilantes called the Phone Police bust anyone who does not follow the rules of the phone. And the Phone Police can do more than just put you in jail. They can erase your entire existance.

Can anyone tell me what that is from, without googling? (DG's post reminded me of it.)

Was that from Are You Afraid of the Dark? I think I remember being scared by that episode, because I made a lot of prank phone calls as a kid.

[Scummbuddy]

yeah... some of those were pretty good. like the girl turing into a doll...  :o   but when dg brought up the interweb police, all i could think about was those blue lights with the really weird siren. and yeah, i made prank calls too, and this would always come to my mind.   

it was a nickelodeon conspiracy.

[Al_Ninio]

While "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" was quite good, nothing can beat the sheer awesome that is Pete and Pete.

[Scummbuddy]

oh, if i ran nickelodeon, i would play all the old shows that I grew up on at night, in place of nick at nite, since they already have "TV Land" which is essentially the same. I miss Salute Your Shorts, oh, and I was not knocking Pete and Pete. I remember back before it became a show, and they did 30 second shorts between different shows. Good times.

[Paper Carnival]

Spongebob rocks my socks off!!!!

[Disco]

Nostalgic for "Pete and Pete" Scummbuddy? Four days from today go to your local DVD retailer and ask for this.
It will surely bring you back.

[Potch]

Ok, sorry to drudge up this old thread, but there are now some sound clips from the rock opera, The Erinys on http://cdbaby.com/cd/mcvb.  I'm interested to hear any of your opinions... good and bad.  They're just short clips of the songs, but at least you can get a slight feel for it.

Thanks guys!